Dead toddler's mother fails to appear in court
Court reporter Adam Cooper tells us more about what has happened to Sofina Nikat, who has been charged with the murder of her 14-month-old daughter, Sanaya Sahib.
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The mother of slain toddler Sanaya Sahib has refused to appear before a magistrate after being charged with her daughter's murder, amid concerns over her mental state.
Sofina Nikat, 22, had been due to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over the death of her 14-month-old daughter, Sanaya Sahib, in Heidelberg West, but she declined to be brought into court from the cells below the building.
Sofina Nikat with her daughter, Sanaya. Photo: Facebook
Defence counsel Michael McNamara said a doctor and a psychiatric nurse had seen Ms Nikat while she was in custody, and both were concerned about what effect a court appearance would have on her.
Ms Nikat was also concerned about entering a courtroom.
"It's her preference not to be brought up," Mr McNamara said.
CCTV footage of Sofina Nikat pushing daughter Sanaya Sahib in a stroller. Photo: Channel Seven screen grab
Ms Nikat, of Mitcham, was arrested on Tuesday morning and faced an out-of-sessions court hearing on Tuesday night, where a bail justice was told she had made a "full confession to the murder" of her 14-month-old daughter, last Saturday.
Sanaya's body was found in the Darebin Creek about 2.45am on Sunday.
Ms Nikat was charged with murder on Tuesday.
Police drive past the house in Perth Street, West Heidelberg where Sanaya Shaib had been living. Photo: Jason South
Mr McNamara told the court on Wednesday that a doctor and psychiatric nurse had seen Ms Nikat earlier that morning and were concerned about what effect a court appearance would have on her.
The doctor and nurse wanted Ms Nikat to undergo a more detailed psychological assessment, Mr McNamara said.
The court heard this was Ms Nikat's first time in custody and that she had mental-health issues.
Michael McNamara, defence lawyer for Sofina Nikat, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that his client did not want to leave her cell. Photo: Wayne Taylor
Asked by magistrate Joanne Metcalf if Ms Nikat was at risk of self harm, Mr McNamara said: "It's got to be a live issue."
Prosecutor Susanna Locke told the court that telephone intercepts would need to be transcribed before Ms Nikat's next court appearance, and CCTV footage would need to be formatted correctly.
The state government said on Wednesday it would investigate Sanaya's death and determine if the Department of Health of Human Services and other agencies followed protocols for sharing information about the toddler.
Police tape marks off the stretch of Darebin Creek where Sanaya Shaib's body was found. Photo: Liam Mannix
Ms Nikat was remanded in custody and is due to return to court on August 3.
There did not appear to be any of Ms Nikat's family members in court.
Ms Nikat told police at the weekend her daughter had been snatched from her pram by a stranger while they were walking in Olympic Park about 10am on Saturday.
She had described the stranger as a man of African appearance who was wearing no shoes and smelt of alcohol.
The report sparked a massive search in the area involving police and volunteers.
Channel Seven on Tuesday reported that police had obtained CCTV footage of a woman pushing a pram toward Darebin Creek on Saturday morning with an infant visible in the pram and then returned from the creek with the pram apparently empty.
Ms Nikat had been staying at her brother's home in Perth Street, West Heidelberg, which is less than two kilometres from where Sanaya's body was found.
The property was searched by forensic police on Sunday afternoon.
